Funnel device for filling containers



Nov. 16, 1954 J. H. GREEN FUNNEL DEVICE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed March 26, 1952 JOHN H 625%,

States Patentfiice Z ,6 94,5 1 Patented Nov. 16, 1 954 FUNNEL DEVICE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Jolm H. Green, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 26, 1952, Serial No. 278,564

2 Claims. (Cl. 226-34) The present invention relates to an improved device for transferring dry powder and the like from one container to another.

Up to the time of my invention, the process ofemptying dry powder from a container into a receptacle presented considerable difliculty and. requiredmuch time due to the physical characteristics of the powder, particularly when the receptacle had a smaller opening than the container. The method most generally in use prior to my invention involved simply using a scoop to withdraw the powder from its container and then pouring it into the receptacle with the scoop alone or with the aid of a funnel. At best this method was tedious, time consuming and inefficient. In addition, if the powder being handled was of a fine mesh, the process was rendered obnoxious by the voluminous clouds of dust that arose as the filling operation was going on.

An operation in which my invention finds practical application is the charging or filling of dry chemical type fire extinguishers, and in that application I shall, in an exemplary way, describe it. As is well known, the use 'of dry chemical type fire extinguishers has become quite prevalent in modern industrial plants. These extinguishers vary in size from the small hand portable type which require approximately 30 pounds of dry chemical powder for a charge to the relatively large wheeledunits which require up to 150 pounds of dry chemical for a charge. As many as 350 of the-hand-type units may be used in an average size steel mill. Where many small fires occur, as in a steel plant, the refilling of the extinguishers, which must be replenished after each use, constitutes a sizeable operation. supplied in drum containers of aproximately 50 pounds capacity, and, as stated above, it was normal practice to replenish the extinguishers by scooping the powder out of the drum with a hand scoop and then pouring it into Y the tank of the extinguisher with the scoop alone or with the aid of a funnel. This method of refilling was not only uncomfortable to the workman, inasmuch as the chemical powder used-is of such a fine mesh that even a slight disturbance filled the air with dust, but it wasalso time consuming and wasteful since a considerableamount of the-powder was lost carrying it from the drumto the tank.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide funnel apparatus whereby dry powder or the like may be transferred from a container having a relatively large opening to a receptacle having a smaller opening in a controlled smooth flow expeditiously and without waste.

It is a further object of my invention to provide funnel apparatus for transferring dry powder or the like from a container having a relatively large opening to a receptacle having a smaller opening wherein the funnel apparatus is provided with sealing means cooperating with the con tainer and receptacle to prevent loss of the powder being transferred and evolution of dust therefrom.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the device of my invention being used for transferring powder from a container to a tank;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line III-III of Figure 1; and

The chemical used for charging is ordinarily Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates the main body of myinvention which s in the shape of a funnel having a flared opening chargmg mouth 4 and a cylindrical, elongated discharge spout 6 of reduced diameter. A circumferential flange 8 is provided around the mouth 4 for'receiving the open end of a conventional drum container A. The flange 8 is substantially S-shaped in cross section as shown in Figure 2, having an elongated straight inner end 10 and an outer end 12 which is curved to form a groove 14. The inner end 10 is attached to the inner surface of the mouth 4 by welding or other suitable means, and the intermediate portion 16 of the flange extends angularl away from the mouth 4 so that it lies in a plane whichdiverges slightly from the lengthwise axis of the main body 2. The material of which the flange 8-is made possesses resiliency so that intermediate portion 16 of the flange may be compressed to a position parallel to the axis of the main body 2 but will spring back to its original position when released. An elastomer sealing gasket 18 is provided in the groove 14 to seal the junction between the container A and the flange 8. The edge surrounding the opening of the drum A is rolled, to form ahead A whichfits in the groove :14 and contacts the gasket 18. When'the drum A 'is in position on the flange, as shown in Figure l, the tendency for the flange to spring'away from the main body 2 provides a tight seal against the bead A of-the drum. However, if more positive sealing means is desired, a split clamping ring 20, of the conventional type, may be used to engage the bead A and the curved outer end of the flange 12 as shown in-Figure 2.

A vent tube 22 having open ends is attached to the outer surface of the body 2 and extends from a point immediately below the edge of the mouth 4 to a point short of the discharge end of the spout 6. An extension 24 is attached to the tube 22 approximately midway of its length and extends therefrom passing through the side wall of the body 2 and thence upwardly parallel to the lengthwise axis of the funnel body 2 to a point beyond the mouth 4. A bracket 26 extending from the inner wall of the funnel may be used .to' maintain the extension 24 in proper position. The free .end 28 of the extension tube is provided with anselongated pointed cap 39 which hasa vent opening'32 in itsside. :The length of the vent tubeextension 24is such that whenthedrum A is supported on the fiange 8, the vent opening 32 of the cap 30 is positioned close to the inverted bottom of the drum A.

A butterfly valve 34 is positioned in the discharge spout 6 to control the flow of powder therethrough. The valve consists of a stem 36 which passes through a pair of opposed openings 38 and 40 in the side of the spout 6. The portion of the-stem within thespout is cut away to form a recess 42 in which is mounted a circular disc body 44. The disc body '44 is madeup of two metal discs 46 having a diameter less than the inside diameter of the spout 6 and-an elastomer disc 48 which is sandwiched between the discs 46 and has a diameter equal to the inside diameter of the spout. The disc body is mounted on the stem 36 by means of a pair of screws 50. A housing 53 is attached to the outer wall of discharge spout 6 around the opening 40 for receiving the projecting end of the stem 36. A hollow cylindrical protuberant member 52 having a threaded outer surface is attached to the outer surface of the wall of the spout surrounding the opening 38. The opening 54 of the protuberance is adapted in size to allow the stem 36 to pass therethrough and also to permit packing to be applied around the portion of the stern adjacent the entrance end of the protuberance. A conventional packing nut 56, which is used in con unction with a standard gland follower, is threaded around the outer surface of the member 52. The free end of the stem 36 is provided with a hand wheel 58 to facilitate turning of the valve.

An accentrically shaped collar 60 is provided around the outer surface of the discharge spout 6 approx1mately midway of its length. The collar includes an eccentric plate portion 62 and a wall portion 64 which depends from the edge of the plate spaced around the outer wall of the spout 6. The vent tube 22 passes through the increased area portion of the plate 62 as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The collar 60 is lined with a rubber gasket and is attached to fit over the raised flange B which surrounds the opening of a fire extinguisher tank B to form a seal. The rubber gasket insures positive sealing.

In operation, when it is desired to charge the fire extinguisher tank B with a dry chemical power W contained in the drum A, the drum is stood upright with its cover removed, and the device of my invention is placed on top of the drum with the intermediate portion 16 of the flange 8 positioned inside the open end of the drum and the groove 14 engaging the bead A. The clamping ring 20 may then be placed around the bead A and the curved section 12 of the flange. The extinguisher tank to be charged is placed in upright position with its cap removed adjacent to the drum with the funnel installed thereon.

The damper valve 34 is turned to block off the discharge spout 6 and the assembly of drum and funnel is turned over and positioned on the tank B with the discharge spout 6 placed within the opening of the tank and the collar 60 engaging the flange B. The eccentric shape of the plate 62 permits the open end of the vent tube 22 to enter the opening of the tank B along with the discharge spout 6 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. After the discharge spout has been properly fitted into the opening of the tank, the valve 34 is turned and the chemical powder is caused to pass into the tank by gravity. It will be noted that the air exhausted from the tank B, as the chemical powder fills it, has an outward passage by means of the vent tube 22. As the powder drops from the bottom of the drum A, air enters this area through the vent extension tube 24 and the side vent 32 in the cap 30. After sufficient time has elapsed the workman turns the valve in the discharge spout and removes the funnel, with the drum attached, to another extinguisher. The filling operation may thus be completed without loss of powder or discomfort to the workman in a relatively short time. The workman may save additional time by setting up other units while the filling operation is going on.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for transferring powder and the like from a container having an opening with a rolled edge therearound in one end thereof to a receptacle having a relatively small opening in one end with a raised neck therearound which comprises a funnel having a flared charging mouth at one end and an elongated discharge spout of reduced diameter at its other end, a flange around the exterior surface of the wall of the funnel adjacent the flared mouth adapted to receive the rolled edge of the container, a collar circumferentially disposed around the discharge spout intermediate its ends adapted to receive the neck around the opening in the receptacle when said spout is inserted therein, means in said discharge spout for controlling the flow of powder therethrough, and vent means attached to said funnel for the passage of air exhausted from said receptacle and the introduction of air to the container as the powder is being transferred from the container to the receptacle, said vent means including an open end tube diposed along the exterior of the wall of said funnel and extending from a point short of said flange through said collar to a point short of the end of said discharge spout, an extension tube connected at one end to said first named tube adjacent the end thereof remote from said spout and extending therefrom through the wall of said funnel and then in a plane parallel to the length wise axis of said funnel to a point beyond the flared mouth, and a vented cap on the projecting end of said extension tube.

2. Apparatus for transferring powder and the like from a container having an opening with a rolled edge therearound in one end thereof to a receptacle having a relatively small opening in one end with a raised neck therearound which comprises a funnel having a flared charging mouth at one end and an elongated discharge spout of reduced diameter at its other end, a flange around the exterior surface of the wall of the funnel adjacent the flared mouth adapted to receive the rolled edge of the container, the flared mouth of said funnel having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening in the container and said discharge spout having a diameter less than the diameter of the opening in said receptacle, a col lar circumferentially disposed around the discharge spout intermediate its ends adapted to receive the neck around the opening in the receptacle when said spout is inserted therein, means in said discharge spout for controlling the flow of powder therethrough, said last named means comprising a rotatable stem member extending transversely through said discharge spout above said collar with the end portions thereof projecting from the walls of said spout, a housing attached to the exterior surface of the wall of said spout covering one of said projecting ends, a hand wheel on the opposite projecting end, a disc member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said discharge spout carried by the portion of said stem within the discharge spout, sealing means around said stern adjacent the exterior side of the wall of said spout remote from said housing, and vent means attached to said funnel for the passage of air exhausted from said receptacle and the introduction of air to the container as the powder is being transferred from the container to the receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,032,635 Tscherning July 16, 1912 1,049,108 King Dec. 31, 1912 1,676,986 Hilford July 10, 1928 1,727,195 Black Sept. 3, 1929 1,981,485 Westin Nov. 20, 1934 2,467,683 Meyer Apr. 19, 1949 2,584,216 Morrison Feb. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 346,417 Germany Dec. 30, 1921 495,612 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1938 

